Garment hanger



W. WALKER GARMENT HANGER Filed May 27, 1

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Patented Oct. 30, 1951 GARMENT HANGER Lloyd W. Walker, Harvey, 11]., assignor to Lloyd W. Walker, William H. Walker, Kathleen D. Walker, and Rose'E. Walker, copartners, doing business as Walker Metal Harvey, Ill.

Products Company,

Application May 27, 1949, Serial No. 95,699

14 Claims. (Cl. 22391) The invention relates generally to garment hangers and, more particularly, to hangers of the character that employ a pair of clamping bars between which the garment is positioned.

The present invention has among its objects the'production of agarment hanger which may be employed for supporting two or more garments, as-for example, a coat and a pair of trousers or a 'skirt, which hanger is very simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient for thepurpose intended.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a hanger-in which provision is made for urging the clamping members apart, at the same time providing means for supporting the second garment, such as a coat or the like.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more par- 3 ticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the hanger embodyingthe present invention with the hanger illustrated in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hanger illustrated in Fig. 1' with the hanger in open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33of Fig. 2;'and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on'the line 4+4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference characters I, l designate a pairvof clamping members or bars adapted to receive and clamp a garment between the samefor supporting a garment such as a pair .of trousers, a skirt, or the like, the member .I being constructed of suitable material, as for example, wood, or the like. The members are supported in operative relation by a pair of members 2 and 3, respectively, illustrated in the present instance as being formed from subapproximately pproximately stantially rigid rods, each bent into a generally U-shape, the rod 2 having an intermediate portion- 4 and leg portions 5, and the rod 3 having an intermediateportionfi and leg portions 1. The free ends .of' the legs 5 and 1 of the respective members are connected to the respective clamping members I, the latter, in the present instance having bores8'of asize'to receive the re pective portion 4 of the member 2 is provided with a downwardly ofiset horizontal portion I2 connected to the portions I Lby substantially parallel legs I 3, and in like manner the intermediate portion 6 of the member 3 is provided with a downwardly offset horizontally extending portion l4 connected to coils my the legs l5. Pivotally mounted on the horizontal portion M" of the member 3 is an 'L-shaped' lever I 6 flattenedzat oneend and curled-"around the portion M of the. member 3 to" form an eye IT, as illustratedin' Figs; 3 and 4'. The end of the lever l6 adjacent the eye I! 'is bentto'form a transversely extending portion I8, the opposite'or free end of the" lever being bent to form a hook l9, by meansof which the device may be suspended from a rod,

or other support, the hook l9 lying in a plane approximately parallel with the clamping m'em-' bersl when thelatterare in a closed position. The portion l8of the lever l6 is'positioned below the horizontal portion l2 of the rod 2, and is so proportioned that rotation of thellever I6 in an upward directionwill cam' the portion I2' toward the portion "14, thereby drawing the clamping members I together, as illustrated in Fig.4. To facilitate thisaction, the portion l2," if desired, may be providedwith a small collar or" 40 sleeve 2| of a softer metal than the rods forming the leverl 6, whereby'less friction will be produced between the lever and the portion l2 during the' closing operations than would be the case if the frictional engagement were between two like materials. The sleeve 2| may be clamped,.or.

otherwise rigidly secured, to 'the'portion I2.

Carried, in the present instance, by the memher I connected to the rod 3 is an elongated rod,

indicated generally by the numeral 22,- bent to' form a pair of more or less aligned elongated loops 23,'connec'ted to one another throughan intermediate portion 24, thefree ends 25 of the member 22 extending downwardly, as indicated at 26,'and inserted in' bores 21 in the adjacent member .I, the ends-25 being held in. engagement The intermediate with the member I by a press fit, or the like. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the loop portions 23 of the member 22 are inclined downwardly, whereby the loops may be employed as a hanger for supporting a coat or other garment. The member 22 is formed from a more or less resilient material, with the loops 23 being so shaped that the intermediate connecting portion 24 of the member tends to assume a position such as illustrated.

in Figs. 2 and 3, with such intermediate portion spaced from the juncture of the upwardly extending portions or legs 25,. with. the. adjacent ends of the loops 23, wherebythe intermediate portion 24 will engage the legs-.5: of: the rod- 2,

tending to rotate the latterand' the member: i associated therewith outwardly away from the other member I, as illustrated iniFigsh Ztand 3. The member 22 thus exerts a spring action between the rods 2 and 3, and supporting members I, urging the same apart about their hinged connection: Referringito-Fig-,. 4; it will-be noted. that the intermediate connecting portion 2d of. the member: 22 is; positioned above: the portion: in

off'the'lever l'iiwhenthe device: is in closed position,. so that the" downward movement of, the member'22 undertheloadof azheavy; garment, or the. like, carried: upon the loop: portions 23; is restricted. by the portion l8, so that all' thedownward". loadv cm the: intermediate portion 2% is directly transmitted: to the hook; [9; Thus only part of the weight of the garment hanging onthe; member 22 is carried throughithe: legs. 25.- and member I, the bulk. of therweight of the garment being transmitted directly to the hook: Downward force'onthemember' I: carrying the member 22;- which force: would be in: adirection tending to:.sep'aratethemember I fir-om: rod- '3'} is thus reduced" toa safe:minimum-.

vIt. will? be. noted: that the. constructionherein described provides a very simple'hanger adaptedvision for supporting acoat, or the like; and as the member 22 is constructed of relatively stifi. material; with the spring; action being produced by the relatively long looped portions, :1. very smooth positive spring action: is achieved, although the closing forcerequired is approximately the same as that in other spring actuated hangers of the clamping: type-..

Having thus descflbed'my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from thespirit of my invention; hence, I do not wishto be understood as limiting, myself to the exact form, construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. u

What I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent is:

I. In a garment hanger, a pair of clamping members, a bent wire rod for each of said members" having. both ends secured to the corresponding member, with an intermediate portion of one rodcoiled about an. intermediate portion of the other rod to form a hinge; ai'clamping; lever pivoted to one of said rods and engageable upon rotation thereof with the other rod to draw said clamping members together, the free end of said lever being hook-shaped to provide means by which the hanger may be supported, and a bent wire rod having itsendssecured to. one of said clamping members, said last-mentioned rod extending outwardly beyond the ends of the respective clamping members and looped back to form an intermediate portion extending between the two first-mentioned rods and engageable with the rod carrying the other clamping member to-exerta force thereon tending to separate the two clamping members.

2. In a garment hanger, a pair of clamping members, a, bent wire rod for each of said members having both ends secured to the corresponding member, with an intermediate portion of one rod. coiled. about an intermediate portion of the other rod to form a hinge, a clamping lever piv- V otedto one of said rods and. engageable upon rotation thereof with'the-other rod to'draw saidclamping members together the free-end of, said lever being hook-shaped to provide means bywhich the hanger may be supported, anda bent wire rod having its ends secured to. one of. saidclamping members, said last-mentionedrodex tending outwardly beyond the ends of the 1'67. spective clamping members andloopedback to. form an intermediate portion extending between the two first-mentioned rodsand-over-lying a por-- tion of said clamping lever; whereby downward movement of the last-mentioned; intermediateportion is limited, and downward-stresses thereon may be transmitted'directly totheclamping; lever and the hook-formed thereon.

3. In a garment hanger, a pair'of hinged members having oppositely disposed portions adapted;

to clamp a garment therebetween, a movable lever carried by one of said hinged: members;

and engageable with the other hinged member for drawing said clamping portions into clampin position, said lever-beingprovided withimeans engageable with a: support from which the device may be suspended, and a. garment supporting member connected'tooneof said hingedmembers having a, pairof oppositely extending garment supporting. portions, each extending outwardly beyond the adjacent ends. of the clamping por tions. of the hingedmembers, and having an intermediate portion overlying a. portion of said lever, whereby downward stresses on said garment supporting member may be transmitted through said intermediate portion to the adjacent' portion of said lever.

4. In a garment hanger,.a.pair: of hinged members having oppositely disposed portions adapted to clamp a garment therebetween, av resilient member having a pair of oppositely extending portions, each extending outwardly: beyond the adjacent ends of the clamping portions: of the hinged members, said resilient member'having portions thereof engaged with the respective hinged members and exerting a force thereon tending to separate said clamping portions, and

means for drawing saidclamping portions: into clamping position in opposition. to; said separating:

force.

5. In a garment hanger, a pair of hinged members having oppositely disposedportions: adaptedi' to clamp a garment therebetween, a resilient.

wire rod secured to oneof. said, hinged membersextending. outwardly beyond: the ends of the re.-- spectiveclamping portions; and-looped. back to; form an intermediate. portion extending between the hinged members and engageablewith thd other of said hinged members to exert a force thereon tending to separate said clamping -po1 6.- In a garment hanger, a'pairof hinged me'mbers having oppositely disposed portions adapted to clamp a garment therebetween, a wire rod secured to one of said hinged member extending outwardly beyond the ends of the respective clamping portions and looped; back toaformga pair of loops connected by an intermediate :pore tion, the latter being engageable with the other of said hinged members to exert a force thereon tending to separate said memb rs and means for'drawing said clampingportions intoclamping position in oppositionto said separating force.

7. In a garment hanger, a pair of hinged members having oppositely disposed portions adapted to clamp a garment therebetween, a pair of generally U-shaped, resilient wire loops, each extending outwardly beyond a respective pair of corresponding ends of said oppositely disposed clamping portions, with the ends of the loops being positioned adjacent said hinged members, one end of each loop being secured to one of the hinged members, the other ends of the loops be-' ing operatively related to the other of said hinged. members, whereby said loops exert a force on said members tending to produce relative movement therebetween, and means related to both of said members for relatively moving the same in opposition to such force.

8. In a garment hanger, a pair of members each comprising an elongated clamping element and a wire rod of generally U-shape, the free ends of each rod being secured to its associated clamping element, the intermediate portions of said rods being engaged to form a hinge about the axis of which said clamping members are relatively movable toward or away from each other, a pair of resilient, generally U-shaped wire loops, each extending outwardly beyond a respective pair of corresponding ends of said clamping elements, with the corresponding ends of said loops being positioned adjacent said U-shaped rods, one corresponding end of each loop being bent transversely thereto and secured to the clamping element of one of said members, the other corresponding ends of the loops being operatively related to the other member, whereby said loops exert a force on said members tending to produce separating movement between said clamping elements, and means related to both of said U-shaped rods for producing relative movement of said clamping elements toward each other in opposition to such force.

9. In a garment hanger, a garment supporting member constructed from a wire rod bent to form a pair of oppositely extending, generally U-shaped loops, the legs of which are adjacent one another, a corresponding leg of each loop being connected by an intermediate portion integrally formed with such legs, the free ends of the other corresponding legs eachv terminating in a portion extending transversely to the remainder of the respective leg, with said transverse portions extending in the same general direction in opposed relation, a connectingmemher to which said transverse end portions of the legs are secured, and a hook structure secured to said connecting member from which the latposition in opposition: to

ter and said garment supporting member may be supported"; i

10. In a garment hanger, a garment support- 0 ing member constructed from a'wire rod bent to form a pair of oppositely extending, generally U-shaped loops, the legs of which are adjacent one another, a corresponding leg of each loop being connected by an intermediate portion int'egrallyforrned with such legs, the free ends of the other corresponding" legs eachterminating in aportion extending transversely to the remainder of the respective leg, with said transverse portions extending in the same general di rectioninop'pQse'dreIatiOn, a connecting member to which 'said'transver'se'end portions of the legs are sec'ured, a'nd"'a hook structure secured to said connecting member from which the latter' and said gar'ment supporting member may be supported, said hook structure having a laterally tending transversely to the remainder of the respective leg, with said transverse portions extending in the same general direction in opposed relation, a connecting member to which said transverse end portions of the legs are secured, a hook member, means for securing said hook member to said connecting member, whereby the latter and said garment supporting member may be supported therefrom, said hook member having a laterally extending portion underlying the intermediate portion of said garment supporting member, whereby downward movement of said intermediate portion is limited and downward stresses thereon may be transmitted direct- 7 1y to said hook member.

12. The combination in a garment hanger including a garment support having a pair of hinged members having oppositely disposed portions adapted to clamp a garment therebetween, and means for drawing said portions together into clamping position including a hook structure adapted to support the garment hanger, of another garment support comprising a wire rod bent to form a pair of oppositely extending, generally U-shaped loops, the legs of which are contiguous each loop being connected by an intermediate portion integrally formed with such legs and extending transversely to said hinged members, the free ends of the other corresponding legs each terminating in a portion extending transversely to the remainder of the respective legs, with said transverse portions extending in the same general direction in opposed relation, said last mentioned transverse portions afiixed to one of said oppositely disposed portions, and said hook structure operatively connected to one of the aforesaid oppositely disposed portions, whereby the oppositely disposed portions of the first mentioned garment support and the second mentioned garment support may be supported.

13. In a garment hanger, a pair of hinged memto one another, a corresponding leg of bers-having oppositely disposed clampingvportions adapted to clamp a garment therebetween, a resilient wire rodhaving the ends thereof formed transverse tothe oppositely disposedv clamping portions andsecured to one of" the disposed clamping portions'of said hinged membersand also including an intermediate portion extending laterally of the hingedmembersand deformed to engage the other of said hinged members-to exert a force thereon to-separate said clamping portions, and means for drawing said clamping portionsinto clamping position inopposition to'said separating force.

14. A garment hanger comprising one garment V hanger including a pair of hinged" members having oppositely disposed clamping portions adapted to clamp; a garment therebetween, another garment hanger including oppositely extending resilient loop portions secured to one of said hinged"- members-and extending outwardly be yond the ends of-therespective clamping-portions said; loop portions. operatively connected tothe: other of said hinged members and exerting: a,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordvin the;

fil'e of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,325,839 Faselet a1 Dec.- 23, 1919. 1,955,? 92 Deknatel Apr. 24, 1934 

